Happy 2nd Birthday, sweet Aiden!!!!

My Dear sweet Aiden,
Two years ago today our lives were changed forever, for the better! I can't believe how quickly time has flown. It seems like just yesterday we were loading 3 kids into our van for the first time. How exciting that was! Life with two kids was very, well, settled. We had the boy, we had the girl, now we should have been content, right? Well, if we wanted just a comfortable, settled life, yes. But, I for one, have never been good with comfortable or settled. Daddy and I like excitement! We like a challenge. So, we decided to have you. And boy, oh boy has life been exciting since then!

I remember so well the day you were born. We were so ready to have you here. We had a brief moment of panic during your delivery, then we were holding our little angel in our arms. We have praised God for you since then. Even when we struggled with your tongue tie, and feeding issues, I was determined to give you the best and praise God still through the trials for you. Can you believe that we made it 23 months of nursing? That is my second longest record! Who knew we would push through so many trials to succeed? I guess you did, right? I think that is a nice look at what is to come in your life. Your determination will be an asset to you, my dear one.

You hit 16 months and FINALLY learned how to walk. Then came your next phase...the TORNADO phase (your current phase). You seem to toddle around the house like a runaway train, leaving messes in your path. But, anytime I get frustrated with you, you just flash that dimpled smile and my emotions subside and again I am captivated by your sincere joy. You have such a love and joy of life, it is difficult to be upset with you even for a little while.

I have loved you being such a mommy's boy, but I can say that it has been nice to see your love for your daddy growing as well. The other night Daddy came home late after a long day of flying. You had almost been asleep in your chair and I had just planned to pass you off for a quick hug before tucking you into bed. Once you got into Daddy's arms, you gave me the hand and said, "Uh uh!" So Daddy sat with you on the couch and you fell asleep on him. Such a sweet time.

As we move into your third year, Caitlyn's fifth year, Noah's ninth year, we have an exciting time ahead of us. We will be moving this next year and I anticipate that will come with its own set of challenges. But, I am so glad God gave you to us, Aiden. You have blessed us more than we could have imagined! Carry on my little tornado boy. I hope that we will be able to keep up with you this next year!

Our Chinese/Japanese day!

Quick snapshot from a few weeks ago...

Basho and Haiku...

This week we are rowing The Grass Sandals (as well as A Pair of Red Clogs, for Caitlyn) and have been enjoying studying Japan and some Japanese traditions. Today we studied Haiku and Noah tried his hand at writing some. He really does have a gift of writing, if I do say so myself. Don't let me color your opinion, though, see for yourself!

Dewdrops on the webs shine
Beauty is everywhere
Plants look toward the sun.

Leaves are shuttering
They're shadows in the night moon.
Water flows into streams.

Notice that inversion in the first line, a natural I tell ya'!

Introducing..."A um"

Aiden learned how to say his name today!!!!! Yipee! I'm so happy. It's sort of like the turkey sandwich incident when he learned to eat. Any time you fear there is an issue with one of your children, when you are proven wrong, it is a wonderful day. So, today Aiden said his name, "A um" and we couldn't be happier for him!

They will be elible, Mommy...

Last week we went to the science museum for a much needed field trip. I just LOVE the fact that my kids feel so at home in the museum. It feels like a home away from home for them. We were about to board the Columbus ships when Aiden got a sudden case of vertigo. He would go up the ramp to the ship then run back down telling me, "Uh, uh!" Anyway, Caitlyn joined us on the last run back down and she became facinated with these little seeds that were from some pods off a local tree. She began collecting them, scooping them up, pile by pile. She then informed me that we could could cook them for dinner after we washed them, then they would be "elible". I thought it was wonderful that her vocabulary included the word edible, even if it was Caitlyn-ized! Good job sweet girl!